Blast fishing
From Freepedia
Blast fishing or dynamite fishing describes the practice of using dynamite or other forms of explosive material to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. This practice is extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the shock-waves often destroy the underlying habitat (usually coral reefs close to the coastline) that supports the fish. The frequently-improvised nature of the explosives used also means danger for the fishermen as well, with accidents and injuries
Although outlawed, the practice remains wide-spread in economically depressed areas of the Philippines, where the practice dates back to even before the Second World War; one 1999 report estimated that some 70,000 fishermen (12% of the nation's total number) engage in the practice today.[1] Extensive hard-to-patrol coastlines; the lure of lucrative, easy catches; and in some cases outright apathy or corruption on the part of local officials make enforcement of blast fishing bans an ongoing challenge for Philipine authorities.
The practice is also found in other regions of Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, and even the Aegean Sea and coastal Africa.
